Did you know that many of our neighbors in nearby towns and cities are all ready enjoying successful community gardens of their own? Here are some inspiring examples of community gardens in our area.
Rochester Roots
This not-for-profit 501c3 organization based in Rochester, NY is focused on advocacy, education, and community development, and has created several school-community garden projects that teach elementary school students to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Gardens have been built at two Rochester schools: Franklin Academic Campus at 950 Norton St., and Clara Barton PS #2, at 190 Reynolds St. Produce grown at the schools is harvested and distributed to students and community members who work in the gardens. Teachers are encouraged to integrate the gardens into their lessons.
Rochester Roots also participates in the development of neighborhood vegetable gardens, provides environmental education programs, and helped establish the Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture project, based at Peacework Organic Farm in Newark.
Rochester Roots website
Watkins Glen Community Garden
Last summer, 14 community members rented individual plots (10’ x 20’), and volunteers cared for a large communal plot that produced over 1,500 pounds of produce donated to Schuyler Outreach.
This year, a partnership has been formed with 2nd grade students at the Watkins Glen Elementary School where they will participate in hands-on activities as they learn about the growing cycle from beginning to end.
The Observer: Watkins approves community garden
Watkins Glen Community Garden website
Schuyler HeadStart Garden
Built with a small community grant in Montour Falls, this garden provides an opportunity for pre-school children in the HeadStart program to get outside and get their hands dirty.
Using only help provided by town residents, this garden was started on site to provide gardening activities for campers and fresh vegetables for the first ever salad bar at camp. Plant donations from Cornell support the vegetable production, and the CCE teaches a week long gardening program for each of the six weeks of camp.
Schuyler County CCE Teaching Garden
Built using a Department of Health grant for Healthy Living, this garden was built on the grass island next to the Schulyer County Cooperative Extension office in Montour Falls. The goal is to use the plantings to provide gardening and healthy eating workshops to community residents, local students, and organizations like 4-H, ARC, Office for the Aging, and WIC. The garden now contains a straw bale garden, butterfly and permaculture gardens, berries, hardy kiwi, roses, composting area, espaliered fruit trees, grape arbor, wheel chair accessible beds, heirloom vegetables, potatoes, and fruits from around the world. All the plants were donated to the garden by local businesses, Cornell University, and various nurseries around the country.
View more pictures of the gardens here:
And a great slideshow of the construction:
Seneca County Community Garden
The Seneca County Community Garden, begun in 2011 in Seneca Falls, includes nine raised beds - approximately 960 square feet of growing space. The produce grown supports local food pantries, the backpack program and garden members.
The project is a first for the county, and is a result of a collaborated effort among human service organizations, local food pantries, private businesses, and concerned individuals.
In addition to supporting the food pantries with locally-grown produce, the Seneca County Community Garden members offer additional education and programming, including food preservation, canning, and healthy eating kitchen demonstrations.
First ever community garden for Seneca Falls
http://www.fingerlakes1.com/addedstories/20110620154838.php
Seneca County Community Garden Website
http://senecacountycommunitygarden.shutterfly.com/
In addition to supporting the food pantries with locally-grown produce, the Seneca County Community Garden members offer additional education and programming, including food preservation, canning, and healthy eating kitchen demonstrations.
First ever community garden for Seneca Falls
http://www.fingerlakes1.com/addedstories/20110620154838.php
Seneca County Community Garden Website
http://senecacountycommunitygarden.shutterfly.com/
Victor Community Garden
Formed in 2010, this community garden in Victor, NY is managed by nearby resident and lifelong gardener Jerry Birmingham. In exchange for a $25 annual fee, members receive a 10 ft. x 10 ft. plot, which is rotary-tilled for them in spring, and then watered by drip-irrigation throughout the season.
Victor Community Garden is now entering its third year.
A Community Garden Takes Root in Victor
Victor Community Garden Growing Strong
http://www.victorpost.com/features/x1274367637/Victor-Community-Garden-is-growing-strong
Ithaca Community Gardens
Begun in 1976 on a vacant neighborhood lot in Ithaca, NY by a handful of city residents, the community garden quickly grew to 250 participating households by 1981. The group established itself as a community organization serving low-income people, providing educational programs, and assisting with senior citizen's garden programs. A coordinator's position, funded by the Economic Opportunity Corporation, and a board of directors were created to deal with the need for increased leadership.
In 1982 the site was sold to a developer, the funding for the coordinator's salary disappeared, and the garden was relocated to a new plot of land leased from NYSEG, and given a new name: Project Growing Hope. The gardeners cleaned up the site and began improving the heavy clay soil, and eradicating the quack grass that grew there.
In 1986, the City of Ithaca purchased the ten acre tract and the gardens are still there today. Located next to the Ithaca Farmers' Market, Ithaca Community Gardens has approximately 150 plots, a wheelchair accessible garden, and a community composting area.
Ithaca Community Gardens website
Shimmering Light Farm
 |
Shimmering Light Farm
|
Shimmering Light Farm is a cooperative garden serving 20-30 families per year in South Bristol, NY. Members plant and harvest organic vegetables every Saturday from April through November each season. In addition to produce and some fruit, the group raises free range, organic laying hens for egg production and bees for organic honey.
The Farm also has a small CSA (community supported agriculture). CSA members visit the farm every Wednesday to pick up their vegetables, the same vegetables that are harvested on Saturdays with community garden members. There is no work involved with the CSA, and the cost is more expensive, but it is another way for people to experience the farm and benefit from fresh, healthy produce.
 |
Herb Haven
|
Shimmering Light Farm is a program of Seeking Common Ground, a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring, modeling, and inspiring more conscious and restorative ways of life. The organization also funds and operates Herb Haven, a gardening and crafting therapy program for Ontario and Yates County women and children in transition from situations like underemployment, domestic abuse, rehab, and incarceration.
Seeking Common Ground website
Pulteney Town Garden
Construction on a community garden in Pulteney, NY began in the spring of 2012. Sponsored by the Town of Pulteney and situated on town land, this garden designed by Stephanie Mehlenbacher of Cooperative Extension will feature raised beds and several fruit trees. The property also has a pond and working well, and Pulteney's Water Development Officer has volunteered his time to build a water system for the garden. The town has also offered the use of its equipment for garden maintenance.
A town committee meets regularly to develop the garden project, and works in partnership with the Steuben Senior Services Fund, Inc. and Pulteney Aging in Place.
